Tray for conveyer oven



1 2%. w 7 1 Www m m, w wf w W www 2., w EQV. fi S eZ 3 off w J L MAHONEY ETAL TRAY FOR CONVEYER OVEN Aug. 26, 1952 FlledAug 12, 1946 Aug. 26, 1952 J. L. MAHoNEY ETAL TRAY FOR coNvEYER ovEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1946 mw www Aug. 26, 1952 J. L. MAHoNEY z-:TAL

TRAY FOR CONVEYER OVEN 3 Sheets-Shee'f. 5

Filed Aug. 12, 1946 Paiemed Aug. ze, 1952 Joseph L. ,Mahoney, Jliet,`Carl J Rundquist, Chicago, and Carl R. Skarin, Western Springs, Ill., assignorsvto The Petersen Oven Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofv Illinois Application August 12, 1946, Serial No. 689,970

i 11 Claims. (Cl. 198-138) I 1 This invention relates to trays for conveyors used in food baking ovens.

Trays of this -general type are designed to be retained level on different runs through the oven,

i. e., on horizontal and Vertical runs, and around bends. The outs'tanding advantage of this feature is that trays loaded with food to be baked can be run through the oven to its farthest end and returned, to realize the longest baking time for a given length of oven.

The tray of the present invention is especially adapted for use With a conveyor of the general type disclosed in Cook Patent No. 2242,813, issued May 20, 1941. The trays are spaced along the conveyor, and at a certain point each of the trays is adapted to be tilted for dump-ing its load of baked food. f

The present invention is directed to a particular construction of tray Vanlga tltable grille therefor.

Oneof the objects of the invention is the provision of a large tray in which distortion is eliminated and which can be maintained true in its travel through the oven, despite its large expanse.

' Another object is the provision of a tiltable tray composed 'of `a frame or supporting structure, and a grillewhich is tiltable about the supportin-g structure, the latter remaining in horizontal position.

A further object is the provision of. such a tray as just described, in which the grille can be re- -moved from the supporting structure, without interfering with the mounting of the supporting structure on the conveyor, and withoutfdi'sassembly of the conveyor chains. i

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tray having a relatively rigid grille, and a supporting structure for maintaining th grille in true position. i

Still another object is the provision of such a tray in which the tiltable grille is' partially balanced for easy tilting.

The tray, as described above, includes a stabilizing arm maintained horizontal by the conveyor chains, and includes a shaft extending transversely across the oven. This shaft is secured against rotation by the stabilizing arm, and an intermediate portion of the grille is `pivoted on the shaft. Since' the grille only is tilted, there is no rotation of the shaft in the conveyor, and friction is kept at a minimum,-resulting in easy and efficient tilting of the grille.

: Whichzthetrayof the present invention may be The rear end of the grille is supported by cantileverarms carried .by the shaft, and can be adjusted thereon by the adjustment of simple adjusting means. This adjustment of thergrille tends to .prevent 'and compensate for distortion `thereof which a load tends to produce, such as occurs in previous constructions.

`by retainingthe grille in a horizontal position and preventing its distortion, the food is baked iuniformly rbecause all of the pieces are mainltained substantially level; thus the food does not run from one side of the baking pans to the other.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in the constructiony'arrangement and combination of the various parts of our device,` whereby the objects contemplated pare -attained, as hereinafter more fully A`set forth, pointed out in,V the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

HFig. 1 is va 'side View of a portion of the oven conveyor, showing two trays mounted therein,

-withone of the trays in tilted position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a tray and portions of the-conveyor` chains; i i

Fig. `3 is an enlarged view taken on line 3-3 Fig.` 4 is anenlarged view taken on linell-ll Fig. 5-is aview taken on line 5- -5 of Fig. 4;

fFig. 8. iavigewtaxen on mie 8 8 of Pig. 4. ReferringA in'fldetail to the drawings, the oven conveyor consists of two` main chains 12` and 14,

and an auiiliar chain 16. The type of oven in einploy'ed, .and the path of the conveyor through h'the ovemmay be seen in the patent of 'Carl J.

Rundquist, No.A 2,541,386, February 13, 1951. That patent discloses ameans for dumping the trays and is applied to the general type of tray shown here. The present invention is directed to the construction of the tray itself.

i v'I'hedirection of travel of `the conveyor `and trays whenthe tilting or dumpin'g'occurs is indicated by arrows*v in Fig. 1. At times the tray travels'in the opposite direction, but for purposes of the' present illustration the leading 4and trail- -ling edges of thetray will be based on the direc- 3 tion of travel indicated here. The chain |2 is supported by an angle-iron track 18, and the main chain |4 and auxiliary chain IG are supported by angle-iron tracks 20 and 2| on the opposite side of the o'ven.

The tray is indicated as a whole at 22, and comprises a supporting structure 24 and a grille 26. The supporting structure 24 includes a shaft, indicated generally at 25, comprising, a tubular member or pipe 28, and a pair of hollow studs 30 and 32; one secured in each end of the pipe 28. The hollow studs 30 and 32 extend a short distance into the ends of the pipe 28 and have a press fit therewith. On one side of the pipe 2B are a number of holes 34-, exposing the'hollow studs and in which weld material is placed for securing the hollow studs 30 and 32 in tight engagement in the pipe 28. and 32 have reduced portions 36 and 33, respectively, extending outwardly beyond the ends of the pipe 28. Fitted in the hollow studs 30 and 32 are'short rods or pins 40 and 42, respectively. The pins 40 and 42 extend outwardly beyond the outer end of the reduced portions 36 and 38 to different extents for the purpose which will appear as the description proceeds.

The pin 40 is secured in the hollow stud 30 by means of a cotter key 44, and on the extended end of the pin '40 is a spacer 40 fitted' between the members 50 through which the pin 40 extendsf The two members '0 form one link of the main chain l2.

The pinl 42 is firmly secured against rotation end for securing it therein. The outer end of the pin 42 extends through side members 58 forming one link of the main chain |4, a spacer 54 being fitted on the pin between the members58.

A stabilizing arm 30 is welded on the outer end of the 'pin 42, as indicated at'62, and extends rearwardly 'therefrom between the main chain 44 and the auxiliary chain |6. At the rear end of the stabilizing arm 'is a stud 64 extending laterally therefrom' and extending through'the sidepieces 66 forming one'link of the auxiliary chain IG;

A pair of cantilever supporting arms 68' in the form of angle irons,V are secured to the-pipe 28 The hollow studs, 30"

4 at the lower portion thereof, and opening downwardly. Welded to the inner surface of each side plate 12 is a semi-circular bearing member 82 having its open side disposed downwardly. The grille is placed on the shaft by placing the cut-out portions 80 over the reduced ends 36 and 38, so that the semi-circular bearing surfaces 82 rest on. the ends of the pipe23. For securing the grille on the shaft 25 a plate or closure member 84 is secured across the open side of each open- Ving 80, under the reduced portions 36 and 38, and

. in the hollow stud 32 by a tapered pin 52 extending-through-- the two pieces and having a split f as by Welding, and extend rearwardly therefrom,

the leg -portions of the angle irons extending vertically, and horizontally. At the rear end of each cantilever arm 68 is a set screw 10 threaded in the horizontal leg of the angle forming the can- 'tilever arms, and provided with a lock nut. z The grille 26 includes a pair of vertically disposed side plates l2having a transverse member 14 welded across the rear ends of' the side plates.

.The transverse member has a horizontal portion 16' at its lower edge extending forwardly. The

'substantially level with the horizontal. portion'l 'of' the transverse member 14.

The transverse member 74 acts as 'a back plate te-'prevent the pans of food from sliding off 'inthat direction.

Toward the front or leading edge of the tray,

'acut-out portion 80 is formed in each side plate,

A' second transverse member above.

bolted to the respective side plates 12 as indifor fitting against the undersurface of the reduced portions 36 and 33.

The surface of the grille for supporting'food articles is formed by a plurality of substantially parallel rods spaced laterally across the tray and extending from front to rear. Disposed transversely of the tray are a plurality of rods 94 welded to the undersurfaces of the rods 90. The rods 94 are three in number, and the rear one is disposed under the rear ends of the rods 90, and on the horizontal extension 16 of the rear transverse member 14. The front rod 94 is positioned adjacent the front transverse member 18 and welded thereto and to the rods'90. The front ends of the rods 90 are turned down over the upper edge of the transverse member 18 to form loops 96, which terminate at the lower edge of the transverse member 18, where an additional transverse rod 90 is positioned and welded to both the lower edge of the transverse member 18 and the extremities of the loops 36.

The rods 93 are thus positioned at such a height in the grille that they are disposed immediately above the tubular pipe 28, when the grille is in place on the shaft 25. When a load is placed on the rods, the pipe 28 provides a bearing surface for the rods.

Spacers or fillers 92 are secured on the horizontal portion '15 of the transverse member 14 and positioned over the adjusting screws T0 for providing solidity of the grille structure at these points.

Secured to the inner side of each of the side plates '12V and disposed rearwardly of the shaft 25 is a cam shoe 100. The cam shoes are each formed of a plate 102 and a cam surface [04 at right angles to the plateV |02. The cam shoe is secured to the side plate 12, by means of a plurality of bolts. |06. i

The cam surface 404 has a front or leading cam surface l08 disposed at a steep Vangle to the dlrection of travel of the tray and a rear or trail- Ving surface ||0 at a lower slope extending in an opposite or rearward direction.

For tiltingthe grille a pair of rotating cams Il2 are secured to a shaft M4 positioned below the line of travel of the tray, for simultaneous engagement by a pair of cam shoes |00, at opposite endsof each tray.

The cams l |2 are rotated clock-Wise as viewed in Fig. and are so synchronized with the movement of the trays as to engage the leading cam surfaces |08 of the cam shoes to raise' each tray to the full line position shown in Fig. 3. On `further rotation, the cams ll2 recede from the cam shoes and permit the tray grille to lower to its vhorizontal position. The details of the mechanism for operatingthe cams' M2 may be found in the Rundquistv application mentioned o It will be seen that the stabilizing arm 60 is always retained in horizontal position by the constant relation between the auxiliary chain IS and themain chain 14 ofthe conveyor, and asa direct consequence thereof, the cantilever' supporting arms 68 are retained e horizontal, which in turn support the tray grille in horizontal-position at all times except when tilted. The distance between the curved portions of. the tracks 20 as shown-in Fig. 1, is the same as the length of the stabilizing arm, so that the supporting structure of the tray is retained inihorizontal position.4 .The details of this conveyor can be found in the Cook patent referred to above. The stabilizing arm 60 is welded to the pin 42, and the hollow stud 32 is secured to the pin 42 by means of the tapered pin 52, and the pipe 28, being welded to the hollow stud 32, is retained against rotation. The Vcantilever arms 58 are thereby retained in horizontal position.

The grille 26 possesses a considerable degree of adjustment due to the peculiar type of supporting surfaceformed by the `.rods 90. The adjustment Vscrews can be raised or lowered to adiust `the height of the rear ends of the*A grille for maintaining it in horizontal position;l and one or the other of the adjustment screws 10 alone may be adjusted for adjusting one corner or the other of the tray for eiiminating or compensating for distortion of the tray. The greater weight of the tray resides rearwardly of the pivotal support thereo'f on the shaft 25, and after tilting resumes its horizontal position by gravity. i i

" The grille can be removed from the tray easily and conveniently by' removing the closure members 84 from the side plates 12 and lifting the tray off of the shaft` 25. This eliminates the necessity of removing the shaft or supporting structure from the conveyor. and also avoids disassembly of the chains, which at best is a diflicult and time consuming job.

The' grille is light in weight due to its peculiar construction and `as a consequence, it can be tilted easily, and its light weight as well aids in its removal in an easy manner.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be understood of course that We do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and we therefore contemplate by the claims appended hereto to cover any such modifications or substitutions of equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1.` Ina tray, for a baking oven having a conveyor with runs on opposite sides of the oven,

` and 'having a stabilizing arml adaptedl to be retained in horizontal position by the conveyor, the

combination comprising, a transverse shaft secured against rotation to said stabilizing arm and having its ends mounted in and carried by said runs of'the conveyor, a plurality of supporting `arms rigidly secured to said shaft intermediate the ends of the shaft and extending substantially horizontally therefrom, and a grille pivoted on said shaft and having the major portion extending therefrom in the same direction as said arms with the sup-porting surface of the grille being disposed above the axis of the shaft, said supporting arms serving to support the free end of said grille.

2. In a tray, for a baking oven having a conveyor with runs on opposite sides of the oven, and having a stabilizing arm adapted to be retained in horizontal position by the conveyor, the combination comprising, a transverse shaft secured against rotation to said stabilizing arm and having; its .ends mounted in and carried by said runs of' the conveyors, aplurality of supporting arms rigidly ,secured to said shaft inte-rmediate the ends ofv the'shaft andextending substantially horizontally and rearwardly therefrom, and a grille pivoted on said shaft intermediate the ends thereof -with'the supporting surface of the grille being disposedabove the -axis of the shaftthe preponderance of` weight Vofthe grille .beingliin the direction of said arms-from -s'aid shaft,s`aid supporting arms serving to support the end of said grille having said preponderance of weight. 3. In a trayfor a baking oven having a conveyor, said .tray having a'stabilizing arm mounted in and adapted to be retained in horizontal position by the conveyor, the combination comprising, a tubular. pipe, a hollow stud in each end ofsaid tubular pipe,V said -hollow` studs being secured against rotation in said tubular pipe, a pin in each hollowstud and extending outwardly .beyond'the endsthereof, a shear pin securing one of Asaidpins` against rotation in its respective `hollow stud, said one pin being secured againstrotation to said stabilizing arm, the other Of said pins being mounted in` the conveyor, a tiltable grille mounted' on said pipe, and means fixedly secured to said pipe for retaining said grille in horizontal position. .i 4. In a tray` fora -baking `oven having a conveyor, said trayhaving a stabilizing arm mounted in and. adapted to be retained in horizontal position by the conveyor,.the combination comprising secured in the conveyor, `a tiltablefgrille mounted on said pipe, and means fixedly secured to said pipe for retaining said grille in horizontal position.` W z W 5.Ifn `a` tray fora baking oven havinga conveyor, said tray having a stabilizing arm mounted in'a'nd adapted toberetained' in horizontal 'position by the conveyor, the combination comprising, a shaft, said shaft vhaving reduced ends, one

of the reduced ends being 'mounted in and secured` against rotation tojsaid stabilizing arm,the otherl reduced end being mounted` in the conveyor, a grillincluding a pair ,of side platesl havingopenings in'the lower edges thereof, said openings being adapted .to fit over said reduced ends'lbf the shaf-t, removable closure members secured to said sidefplatesover each'of said openngs under said reduced er'idsv of said shaft,"an`d means on said shaft for supporting said grille in horizontal position.

6. In a tray for a baking oven having a conveyor, said tray having a stabilizing arm mounted in and adapted to be retained in horizontal position by the conveyor, the combination comprising, a shaft, said shaft having reduced ends, one of the reduced ends being mounted in and secured against rotation to said stabilizing arm, and the`l other reduced end being mounted in the conveyor, a grille including a pair of side plates having openings in ,the lower edges thereof, said 'with said bearing'means for supportingsaid grille Vinzhorizontal position.

7. A tiltable grille. for a tray toV be-mounted .ona conveyor traveling through av baking oven,

said grille having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said grille comprising, a pair of; vertically exten'dingsideplates, transversemembers secured to said side plates atthe leading edge'and atthe trailing edge thereo'f', and .a plurality of parallel rods secured to said transverse members and ex- .tending substantially the length' of said side plates, the `forward ends of said parallel rods being turned down over and secured to. said transverse ,member at the' leading edge of the grille, forming open loops extending forwardly of said 'leading' edge.

18. A tiltable grille for a tray having a shaft, said'tra being adapted for mounting on aconveyorin a bakingl oven,'said grille comprising a pair of side plates, a plurality oftransverse-mem'- .bers secured to said side plates, a supporting surface secured to said transverse members, means onisaidside plates, adja'cent the bottom thereof and below said supporting surface for'pivotally mounting. the* grille on said shaft,.andzcam means secured to the inner surface of each of said side plates and at the lower portions thereosaid cam means being adapted for-engagement by operating means for tiltingsaid grille. g

'9. A tiltable grille for av tray to be usedv on a `oonveyor, traveling through a .baking'ovem said grille having a leadingedge and a trailing edge, said tray having a shaft for pivotally" mounting plates,l an L-shaped .transverse member secured Vto'said side plates at; thetrailing edge of thegrille andhavingia flat portionspaced upjwardly from the bottomed'ges ofsaid side plates., and a'vertical 4portion forming a wall at the trailing edge of the grille, a vertically disposed transversemember secured between said side plates at. the leading edge of the grillegapluralityiof laterally spaced r parallel. rods secured to said transverse members,

saidrods being parallel. vwith said side plates and of ,substantially thelength of saidside plates, the

forward ends of sadrod being bentdownwardly over the upper edge' of. said. vertically Vdisposed `transverse member andfte'r'minating Vat theV lower edge of said transverse member to form open loops extending forwardly of said. transverse member at the leadingjedge,sadsideplat'es having open- 'ingsf formed in their 2lower `edges for pivotally supporting 4thegrille on said shaft, on an a'xis below' saidrods, closure membersifor said openings positioned under said'shaft,v cam means sev.said grille: said grille comprising apair of side cured to each of said side plates rearwardly of the pivot .point of the grille, said cam means being adapted' forengagement by operating meansfor t'iltingzthe grille. 4 w

10. In a tray for abakingovemsaid'traybeing adapted to bemounted in a conveyor having' a main chain on one side of the oven and a main chain and an auxiliaryV chain on the otherside, the combination comprising, Va transverse-shaft adapted to .be mounted in the main chains, a stabilizing arm adapted tobe positioned between the. auxiliary cliain andthe adjacent main chain, said. stabilizing arm being fi'xedly secured to said shaft' and having its other end adapted' to be se- .cured in the auxiliary chain, the chains of the oonveyor serving. to retain said stabilizingV arm in horizontal position 'inl all positionsl of the Chains, a -pluralityof cantilever arms spaced along said shaft and'rigidly secured thereto andextending horizontallytherefrom, and a grillepivotally mounted on saidshaft with the supporting surface of the grille being disposedjabovethe'axs of the shaft, said cantilever supporting `arms't'ogether with said pivotal mounting serving to support said grille inhorizontal position.

11. In a tray, adapted to be-mounted on a conveyor of aV baking oven, and having a lstabilizing arm adapted to be retainedl in horizontal position by the conveyor, the combination comprising, a transverse shaft securedV against rotation to said stabilizing. arm, a plurality of supporting arms rigidly secured to said. shaft and extending substantially horizontally therefrom, a grille pivoted on said shaft and extending therefrom in the same direction as' said 4arm-s with the' supporting surface of the grille being disposedabove the axis of the .shaftsaid supporting arms serving to support the free end of said grille, and cam means securedto said grille on the sameside of said shaft as said supporting arms, said cam means being adapted` forengagement by operating means for pivoting said grille. f

JOSEPH L.'MAI-IONEY.V CARL J RUNDQUIST. CARL R. SKARIN.

o REFERENCES CIfI'El)l The' .following references .are of' record in the file of this patent:

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Number Name v Date 855,141 Sommers Mayf28; 1907 1.312,294 Allison Aug;V 5; 1919 1,3`43,184 Bakeret al.* June '8,' 1920 1,412A44- Ba1 er i Apr. 11,1922

1,488,251 Housel L Mar. 25, 1924 1 ,680,441 Adamsj Aug. 14, 1928 1,949'364 Keller' .v Mar; 6, `'1934 2,0`07,04=4 Francis 'July 2, V1935 21342393 Forge Feb. 22, 1944 23973725 

